What Is The Cheapest Privacy Fence Option?

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Whether you're tired of gardening under the watchful eyes of your neighbors or you simply want to enjoy a sense of seclusion from the outside world, there are various privacy fence ideas to create a quiet escape in your backyard. But if you're working with a budget, you'll need to think carefully about the material that's right for your yard. That doesn't mean that you can't enjoy a high-quality and attractive privacy fence. In fact, there are plenty of affordable fencing ideas to enclose your yard without sacrificing aesthetics. It just means that a little creativity with materials is important to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. Generally speaking, the most affordable option for a privacy fence is likely to be a chain link fence. A chain link fence could cost as little as $14 per linear foot installed, and generally won't cost any more than $48 per linear foot.

At first, this might sound strange. After all, isn't chain link fencing the least private option of them all? The knit-together weave of wire doesn't offer much coverage, but with a few nifty (and cost-effective) additions, it can actually be surprisingly successful at blocking the view from nosy neighbors. For example, you could add some privacy slats to the ensemble. This works by weaving the slats through the chain link. And since you can buy and paint slats in a number of colors and materials, this method can even give regular chain link a serious decorative upgrade while negating the need for constant maintenance, depending on your choice of material. You needn't stick to slats, either. Instead, you could buy privacy screen fabric that's designed to fit onto chain link fencing. Again, this can also be found in a variety of colors — all of which go above and beyond the dreary look you'd usually associate with a standard chain link fence.

The cost to build a privacy fence depends on the materials you use and whether you hire a professional or build it yourself. Of course, it will also depend on the size of your yard, the height of the fence, and any special considerations, such as a steeply sloping landscape or multiple gates. But as a general guide, Home Advisor suggests that a chain link fence (without slats or fabric) usually ranges between $1,298 and $3,578. That sounds pricey, but bear in mind that around 50% of that cost is attributed to professional labor. That means that if you familiarize yourself with the process and equip yourself with the right handy tools for installing a fence, you could potentially build your fence for much less. 

This estimate for the fence itself doesn't include the privacy slats or fabric. As an example, these M-D Building Products Composite Vinyl Slats are currently available at Home Depot for less than $80, and cover 10 linear feet per pack. Alternatively, you could buy a roll of chain link fence privacy fabric. Again, there are lots of options to choose from — and Home Depot is far from the only place to find it — but for example, you can pick up an iCover 4-by-50-foot Mesh Privacy Fence Screen for under $30 on Amazon. If you simply can't picture a chain link fence surrounding your space, bamboo may be the next cheapest option at around $20 to $30 per linear foot. For comparison, a wood privacy fence will run you at least $25, while a vinyl fence starts at $40 per linear foot.